Last updated 16th September 2005
by Helen Nichols
Version 2 website
Launch 22nd October 2001

Learning for Life in Sheffield

ILP Individual Learning Plan Project - Sheffield

What is an ILP?

The ILP is a personal planning and review document. It is completed by a young person after discussion with an adult adviser/facilitator (e.g. teacher, form tutor or Connexions Personal Adviser)

Background

• In the government policy paper 14-19 Opportunity and Excellence, schools, colleges, training organisations and employers were called upon to work together to put the needs of students at the centre of 14-19 provision
• From 2004/5 the KS4 curriculum will become more flexible. this will mean big changes for the curriculum and qualifications offered to young people. The only core elemets will be English, Maths and Science along with ICT. citizenship, RE,sex education, careers education and PE will also be compulsory.
• Pupils at KS4 will be allowed to spend part of their time in specialist studies outside school. They could take GCSE's and/or work towards vocational qualifications ( e.g. NVQs) at college,training organisations or in industry.
• Young people will therefore need increased support to navigate their learning route from 14-19, with access to school,college and traiing provider or employer.

  Progress on the ILP project in Sheffield

• The ILP (Individual Learning Plan) Project began in Oct 2003 and will finish in March 2005
• In year 1 a pilot of ILPs will take place, in year 2 the processes will be applied across the Y9 cohort, tracking of Y10s will also take place.
• It is essential that ILPs become a constituent of schools target setting processes as well as embedded in pastoral and guidance programme - not just another piece of paperwork. ILPs need to be revisited and reviewed as well.
• The ILP template has been created and will be used by City, Handsworth Grange, and Yewlands.
• High Storrs school created their own ILP as they were working to a different time scale and needed to start sooner than the rest of the schools. This is currently being trialled. This will provide an interesting comparative ILP within the project.
• Briefing notes and guidelines on ILPs are being developed by project managers (Karen Allan and Kim Flower) from the Connexions Service.
• One of the project managers attended the LEA Progress File and key skills training day further discussions have taken place about the link between PF and ILP

Training

• The project managers are currently visiting all pilot schools and delivering training on ILPs.
• An audit of staff training needs about ILP is currently being undertaken. A training programme to support schools in the delivery of the project will be established.
• It is intended that teh4 good practice developed during the project will be disseminated.

Benefits of using ILPs

• It is too early in the project to assess the benefits from using ILPs. However, both ILPs and Progress File are designed to help inform young peoples choices at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. They should both form part of the Careers Education programme within a school.

ILP template (Sheffield schools)

Contact Karen Allan and Kim Flower from Sheffield Futures to find out more about the ILP project
0114 201 2800

enquiries@sheffieldfutures.org.uk